MEDFORD, Ore. — Middle school students are learning how to balance a budget and manage a check book.

Throughout the week, more than 500 students from Jackson and Josephine counties have participated in the Junior Achievement Finance Park exhibit set up at the Medford Armory.

The high tech finance park simulates real life budgeting scenarios through apps and tablets. One app was customized to the program. It assigns to students a family, job, and income. Many students said this teaches them the importance of managing their money and managing it well.

“It’s just exciting to be able to see them at a younger age really start understanding the importance of budgeting… making those financial choices, that in some cases are not easy to make, and I think it’s really setting them up for success down the road,” said Aaron Worthington, Junior Achievement Finance Park financial mentor.